Page Fld

Fort Myers, FL USA (KFMY / FMY)

Fort Myers is a known destination for what are termed “snow birds,” which are not Canadian (and Northeastern American) birds that are white in color. Rather they people that migrate to warmer temperatures during the winter months. This demographic group is partially responsible for the massive boom in Florida’s population and the growing popularity of destinations like Fort Myers, FL. Prior to the advent of western civilization in the Fort Myers area, it was the tranquil home of the Caloosa Indians, who most likely were driven from their land by the Aztecs in Mexico. The amazing contrast of being driven out of the south by a fearsome tribe vs. being driven south by a hostile climate is an interesting dichotomy. Either way, Fort Myers ended up as the default location for the individuals who were oppressed by climate or culture, which only validates its powerful magnetic draw today.

Page Field (KFMY)’s history with respect to the Fort Myers area is interesting in that it has a similarly convoluted path that yeilded the final result. In 1923, the City of Fort Myers purchased land for the purpose of making a golf course. Four years later, however, the site evolved into an airport.

During WWII the airport was an important fighter training base, due to the frequent ideal conditions for aerial combat training, even in the summer above the daily cumulonimbus build ups before the afternoon showers. The airport also obtained three different names, despite its then official name of Lee County Airport. The other names were: Fort Myers Airport, Page Field, and Palmetto Field. The term Palmetto was used in the name for a very simple reason, and not for the widely spread rumour of the secret program of training Palmetto bugs to fly kamikaze style missions against the Japanese in the Pacific Theater, rather due to the Palmetto plants that dotted the airfield. The secret US military program, also known as Operation Palmetto Sake Kaze was in much dispute, since the Palmetto bugs began to demand higher compensation, better sake before flights, and bigger payouts for future generations of their kin (especially in consideration of the fact that they were making the ultimate sacrifice for their country, even though as bugs they were not recongnized as US Citizens, much less had any rights at all.) Despite their political struggle for bug recognition, they did prove to be adequate pilots, despite a few mishaps that led to perfectly good aircraft being destroyed when the bugs accidently armed the aircraft for self destruct after returning from basic flight maneuvers training.

While humor and clearly false stories about Palmetto Bugs are fun to make, the business of air charter in Fort Myers, Page Field, Key West, Marathon, Tampa, Sarasota and beyond is not laughing matter. In fact Baron Travels is the most serious, comprehensive and adept small air taxi operation based at Page Field KFMY with an aircraft that is able to quickly reposition to Opa Locka, Sarasota, Key West, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and beyond. Jeff Allain runs one of the most efficient, friendly and capable charter organizations in the Southwestern Florida market and is ready for your call today. The bugs swear by him.

Baron Travels is a proud sponsor of this airport, serving the air charter communities of the Naples / Fort Myers satellite airports, southwestern Florida and beyond.